I'm on a break this week so I'm replaying a show that really woke me up, even though I managed people for years! In this interview, I speak to two attorneys, Jeff Tenenbaum and Dave Warner of Venable LLP (http://www.venable.com/services/industries/ServiceDetail.aspx?service=136&view=events&SortBy=Topic&TopicGuid=45990960-b2ac-4455-9927-a1bac92e6fab), a law firm based in Washington, D.C. We talk about common pitfalls they see nonprofit managers fall into when hiring and managing staff. Dave and Jeff offer ideas about preparing to hire, the interview process, and the importance of writing down who you interviewed, what you asked, and why you chose the person – and saving that information for years. They describe why you must document performance appraisals and also, what the difference is between exempt and non-exempt employees. Finally, we touch on some guidelines for defining who is an independent contractor. Jeff Tenenbaum is a partner with Venable and he is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit attorneys. He chairs the firms Nonprofit Organizations Practice Group and is an accomplished author, lecturer and commentator on nonprofit legal matters. Dave Warner is a partner with Venable as well, and he focuses on resolving and litigating labor, employment and business disputes. Nonprofit managers cannot afford to be naive about managing people; the consequences can be very expensive and time-consuming. Doing good for the world comes with the responsibility of being a good employer. Have all managers in the room to listen to this one and talk about it afterward!